Aontú deputy leader accuses Sinn Féin of ‘smoke and mirrors' tactics over voting rights bill
Aontú is calling on Sinn Féin to explain why it hasn't signed a bill in the Dáil to give Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland the right to vote in the Republic's presidential election.
The party's deputy leader, Gemma Brolly, said she was 'hugely frustrated' at Sinn Féin's failure so far to respond to correspondence from Aontú leader Peadar Toibín on the issue. Sinn Féin has been contacted for comment.
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Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Defence Forces to increase patrols to combat Russian ships in Irish waters
The Defence Forces are to increase both air and naval patrols to combat Russian ships on illegal manoeuvres in Irish waters. The revelation was made by the Defence Minister Simon Harris as part of a new National Maritime Security Strategy that is currently being finalised. The Government will also speed up the €300 million purchase of a new radar defence system for the State along with sonar capability for its fleet. Four out of our eight naval ships are in operation at the moment but the pressure is now on to hire more recruits to get them all back out to sea. The Irish military has also signed up to the EU's Common Information Sharing Environment system which will help track all vessels coming in and out of our Atlantic Waters up to 200 miles off the west coast. The Government has been coming under increasing pressure from other European states to invest more money in defence and to keep a far closer eye on Russian activities in Irish territorial waters. It follows a year after various Russian ships made secret inclusions into the Exclusive Irish Economic Zone, as it is known, and acted suspiciously around the various international sea cables that come ashore off the west coast. Ireland is the main point linking the internet between Europe and the United States. Mr Harris has assured the public he is taking the Russian threat seriously. He said in a series of replies to parliamentary questions about Russia's activities in Irish water: "The Defence Forces routinely monitor foreign vessels with both Naval Service Assets and Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft as well as remote monitoring on a 24/7 basis from the Naval Operations Command Centre in Haulbowline. Tanaiste Simon Harris "It should be noted that foreign vessels transiting Irish waters must do so in compliance with international law and may be subject to sighting and observation by the Naval Service and Air Corps without their innocent passage being infringed. "In relation to additional measures being introduced to strengthen maritime security and surveillance, My Department is working to deliver Ireland's first ever National Maritime Security Strategy. "The aim of the strategy is, amongst other things, to enhance our maritime domain awareness and to protect our critical infrastructure." Troops marching during Tanaiste Simon Harris's visit to Camp Shamrock. (Image: PA) During the past two years the Air Corps has brought into service two state-of-the-art Airbus C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft. The Navy has also started using the P70 Class ship to further help and enable more sea operations. The new intelligence deal with the EU will also result in more secure information being shared with Ireland. Mr Harris added: "This EU programme enables structured and secure information sharing among EU maritime authorities both civil and military, allowing for more effective operations at sea amid new and evolving maritime threats." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
The Journal
3 hours ago
- The Journal
High demand for Irish passports from US-applicants, with jump in UK requests post Brexit
A HIGH NUMBER of applicants from the US have applied for an Irish passport this year, with the latest figures for this year showing 26,111 applications have been submitted. While those numbers account for the first eight months of 2025, the year in which Donald Trump became American president for the second time, they have surpassed the 2022 figures. One of the more famous applicants is comedian Rosie O'Donnell, who is in the process of applying for an Irish passport through descent, according to The Irish Times. Advertisement Last year, a record number of 31,825 applications from US-based applicants were received. This is the highest number since 2016. In 2022, 25,736 were submitted from those based in the US, while in 2023, 29,014 applications were received. It is not just Americans that have been seeking to get an Irish passport in their pocket. Increase in UK applications post Brexit Numbers show that there has also been an increase in UK based applicants post Brexit. Since 2016, there has been continual growth in the number of applications from the UK. Related Reads Larry Donnelly: From Washington to the Áras, uncertainty reigns on both sides of the Atlantic Marion McKeone: Trump is truly rattled over Epstein - can he weather the storm? In 2016, the year those in the UK voted to leave the European Union, there were 131,633. The peak was in 2019, when there were 244,976 applications from those based in the UK. From 2022-2024, the figures are just shy off that mark. This year to date has seen 152,416 applications received. For context, the total passport applications received last year 1,000,640, with 603,782 applications being submitted so far this year. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
5 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Letters: Let's keep fingers crossed that Donald Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin will prove fruitful
With the exception of Hungary, all the EU leaders backed the statement, saying that meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or a reduction of hostilities. US president Donald Trump is due to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska tomorrow to discuss bringing an end to the war. As things stand, there's no invitation for the country the Russian leader invaded, nor for the continent it sits in. It would be true to say that European allies of Ukraine have been burnt before regarding Russian ceasefires. In the past, Russia has made promises that haven't been honoured. I would imagine that the EU will especially be anxious about any possible demands by Russia that Ukraine gives up its quest to join Nato or the EU. One has to be concerned that the outcome of tomorrow's meeting could leave the people of Ukraine extremely unhappy. Of course, the meeting could fall apart without and progress or breakthrough. Perish the thought. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary As Gazan people continue to suffer, at what point are we going to say 'No more'? I fully agree with your editorial that the intentional assassination of journalists in Gaza was intended to stifle the truth in the middle of the genocide and starvation ('Israel's attempt to silence journalists must be condemned', August 12). Journalists, health-care personnel, children, women, the sick, the infirm and the disabled, along with others, have paid far too high a price in this senseless war. They have witnessed unimaginable death, destruction and famine. Sadly, the international community has become desensitised to images of demolished hospitals, mutilated bodies, weeping women and starving children. When will we say 'No more' to these horrors of war? Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob, London Vile attacks on our Indian neighbours must not be tolerated in Irish society The abhorrent hate crimes perpetrated against members of the Indian community in Ireland violate our nation's values of inclusion and equality. They endanger a community that has given so much to our country through its contributions to health care and the economy. These hate crimes become even more abhorrent when you consider the powerful historical ties between our nations, something that has been highlighted recently by politicians and other influential figures and must continue to be propagated to help foster tolerance in those who support xenophobia. When you read about our histories, you realise there are potent parallels to be found. To those Irish people who would defend the ill-treatment of the Indian community, there are questions that I feel they must strongly consider. Did you know Ireland and India have a shared history of colonialism? Did you know we have a historical longing for self-determination and nationhood? Did you know we have a shared trauma of famine, conflict and partition within our nations? Did you know that during the Irish Famine of the 1840s, wealthy Hindus, princes and those of lesser financial means donated thousands of pounds to relief efforts for our ancestors? Wouldn't all of this justify a strong bond and affinity between our people, and not the bigotry manifested in the recent hate crimes? I hope this cancer in our society can be cured and that the Indian community in Ireland will feel welcomed and respected. Tadhg Mulvey, Co Meath Ireland should look to its history to learn how to assimilate immigrants As an Irish immigrant in Canada, I have watched from afar how Ireland deals with the issue of racism. Without going into details Ireland needs to look inward. It is long forgotten that it took about 12 generations (1200 to 1450) for the Normans and Gaels to assimilate, but eventually we all became one happy race. Hopefully with that behind us, the Irish can do better. Gerard Walsh, Port Elgin, Ontario Pesky minor headaches that build up to an all-out war as I go about my life Small annoyances have a knack for stealing our patience, especially after a long day. The fly that landed on my head last night while I was trying to sleep ranks high, as does the classic sock that stubbornly slips down inside the shoe. There's the phone screen that refuses to unlock on the first try, traffic lights turning red just as you approach and the dreaded single hair lurking in your dinner. Then there's public wifi that fails every five minutes, the last stubborn blob of toothpaste that won't come out and the remote control dying mid-show. Add to that the loud chewing in a quiet auditorium, misplaced keys when you're already late and the beer that foams over before you've even poured a proper glass. And, in solidarity with Tom Gilsenan, there's the state-service queue where you are always 12th in line (Letters, August 13). He called a public body at 1.30pm and again at 4pm, still stuck behind the same 11th caller who must have been reciting his or her memoirs. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has these issues, and I'm equally sure there are others I haven't listed. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh Gaeltacht colleges keep Irish language alive and are integral to education Áine Ní Bhreisleáin writes about the challenges facing Irish colleges in the Gaeltacht regions, where last year 25,480 students attended courses ('Exodus of mná tí could lead to end of Gaeltacht tradition for Irish teens', Irish Independent, August 12). Not only does an influx of students contribute to the economies of these regions, but the students themselves immerse themselves in an environment where Irish is the everyday language of the ordinary people living there. For most students this is the only time during their school years when they experience our native language outside of school. The 'coláistí samhraidh' need greater supports because their importance in fostering a 'grá don teanga' in the next generation cannot be over-estimated,
